Lois Ann Niven passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 92.

Lois was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1930 to Doris and Norman Parker and grew up along with her older brother Calvin on St. Claire Avenue, where she and Jack also began raising a family. They had five children, Elaine, Judith, and James were born in Niagara Falls, while Jack Jr., and Judson came along when the family built a home further downriver in Queenston, a tiny hamlet tucked below the Niagara Escarpment and next to the Niagara River. Life was pleasant and the family enjoyed a good life in Queenston. Their house and large yard played host to many family picnics, weekly Sunday dinners, and birthday parties with angel food cake(!) presided over by Lois.

In the summer months she and the kids, and eventually her grandkids, spent time at the family cottage on the Lake of Bays in Muskoka, enjoying boat rides, BBQ's, sunning on the dock by the lake and visiting the nearby town of Dorset. Throughout her life, Lois was a consummate volunteer and a dynamic organizer of functions for: The Lions Club of Niagara Falls (working the annual Carnival Bingo tent was popular with her kids); dinners and functions at the Imperial Order Daughters of The Empire Hall; at all the schools attended by her children; and helping special needs children learn to read and write. Those who knew her knew that her voice, and her laugh, carried for miles and that if she fixed you with "the look" you knew she meant business! Living in the country but working miles away in the city of Niagara Falls, meant there was a lot of driving to be done and Lois was an indefatigable force in any number of vehicles, especially a succession of Volkswagen beetles, often loaded with kids. Those same plucky autos became the chariots she taught her kids to drive in as they learned to explore life outside of the village. In these early years she also held down a bookkeeping job at Table Rock House, a famous tourist destination perched over The Falls with an enormous buffalo head mounted on the wall and a commanding view of a "pirate ship (scow)"stuck in the rocky shoals above the rim. Lois was a partner in managing the family's construction business, J. Niven & Sons Ltd., and then the family restaurant, The Hardware Emporium, until its closing in 1979 prompted their move to the greener pastures of Calgary.

Lois reinvented herself thanks to the move west - she and Jack took up hiking, skiing, and camping in the mountains, most often at their favourite sites in the Kananaskis Valley of Alberta. Later in life, they continued to travel regularly - to visit family and for their treasured annual winter vacation in Mexico. Her home(s) in Calgary became a beacon of welcoming dinners and gatherings for all friends, relatives, wayward travelers, and ex-pats. She worked in the oil industry for a while before retiring to tend to their home and devote attention to her grandchildren full-time. Lois championed, rescued, and supported all her children and extended family ceaselessly, ever ready to lend a hand where it was needed. Lois will be missed immensely by all who knew her, she was generous, kind, and whip-smart and kept her keen sense of humour right to the end.

Lois is survived by her children, Judith, James, Jack, and Judson; nine grandchildren, and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. Lois was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Jack Niven.

A special tribute of thanks is due to Lois' youngest child, Judson, who lovingly and tirelessly looked after every detail of her care and comfort, and was her constant, good-natured supporter all the way through.